Malawian domestic worker jailed for poisoning master in Karonga

A 20-year-old domestic servant has been sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour for poisoning his boss.

The Karonga Magistrate’s Court in northern Malawi heard that Chiyembekezo Nazombe on March 6 this year prepared snacks for his boss, Patrick Chilunga, 40, at his compound at Songwe Border in the district.

But Nazombe is said to have added some poisonous substance to the snacks and asked Chilunga’s wife, Zisone, to give the snacks to her husband.

The court heard that after eating the snacks, Chilunga developed stomachache, salivated and fainted.

A medical report from Karonga District Hospital also indicated that the victim had poisonous substances in his stomach.

After hearing the case, Karonga first grade magistrate Chakaka Nyirenda acquitted Zisone who was the second accused person, saying she had no case to answer.

However, magistrate Chakaka Nyirenda found Nazombe guilty.

‘‘The law clearly indicates that any person who supplies harmful food to another person in any way will be found guilty and the maximum punishment is seven years imprisonment.

‘‘In this case, the prosecution has found that the food was poisoned, and therefore, Nazombe committed an offence by administering snacks that contained poisonous substance to his boss,” said Chakaka Nyirenda.

In mitigation, Nazombe said he was sick and that he was taking care of his parents.

Nazombe comes from Bangwe in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Machinjiri in Blantyre.